USA Network has given a formal pilot order to “Poor Richard’s Almanack” from Legendary Television and Universal Cable Productions.

The drama, titled after Ben Franklin’s yearly almanac, comes from exec producer Jim Danger Gray, who served as a producer on “Orange Is the New Black,” and consulting producer Miguel Sapochnik, who directed two “Game of Thrones” episodes this past season and will direct two more in 2016.

“Poor Richard’s Almanack” is described as an edge-of-your-seat thriller about a group of heroes who emerge as the new Founding Fathers, after America is pushed to the brink of collapse. The series weaves between modern day and a possible future where characters have radically changed.

“Jim and Miguel have brought us a bold conceptual world using historical references in a modern day society,” said Jackie de Crinis, exec VP of original programming for USA Network.

The pilot marks the second project between Legendary and USA, as the cabler has Carlton Cuse’s “Colony” coming up, which is also a co-production with UCP. “Poor Richard’s Almanack” joins two more drama pilots on USA’s slate — “Falling Water” from Gale Anne Hurd (“The Walking Dead”), and “Paradise Pictures” from “Suits” showrunner Aaron Korsh.

The “Poor Richard’s Almanack” pickup, along with the rest of USA’s pilot slate, indicates the cable net’s development into darker, scripted dramas, following the success of “Mr Robot.”

Gray’s other TV credits include “Hannibal” and “Pushing Daisies,” while Sapochnik has directed episodes of “True Detective,” “Masters of Sex” and “House M.D.”

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